Giants release fan favorite Sandoval
The San Francisco Giants released infielder Pablo Sandoval from his minor league contract on Thursday, hours before season opener against the San Diego Padres.
That ended Sandoval's attempt at a third stint with the club. He batted .250 in 28 spring at-bats with two RBIs.
The 37-year-old Sandoval — a fan favorite nicknamed Kung Fu Panda who was the 2012 World Series MVP — was trying to get back to the big leagues for the first time since 2021, when he batted .178 with a .302 on-base percentage, four homers and 11 RBIs in 69 games with the Atlanta Braves.
Sandoval is a two-time All-Star who played for the Giants' 2010, 2012 and 2014 championship teams.
Sandoval played for the Giants from 2008-14 before signing a $95 million, five-year contract with the Boston Red Sox, who released him in the summer of 2017. Sandoval then rejoined the Giants for a second stint from 2017-20. He was with the Braves from 2020-21.
RAYS' FRANCO PLACED ON LEAVE AS SEXUAL ABUSE PROBE CONTINUES >> Tampa Bay All-Star shortstop Wander Franco was placed on administrative leave through June 1 under an agreement between Major League Baseball and the players' association while the investigation continues into an alleged relationship with a minor.
Administrative leave is not disciplinary under the sport's joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy, and a player continues to be paid. Franco, who has a $2 million salary this year, has remained in his native Dominican Republic while authorities there investigate and he did not report to spring training. YANKEES' COLE PLACED ON 60-DAY INJURED LIST >> New York Yankees' ace Gerrit Cole was placed on the 60day injured list with right elbow inflammation ahead of their opener at Houston.
The earliest the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner can pitch in the major leagues is May 27. The team announced on March 16 that the right-hander won't throw for three to four weeks due to nerve irritation and edema in his throwing elbow.
Golf
KORDA 3 SHOTS BACK >> Nelly Korda shot a 6-under 66 in the first round of the Ford Championship, leaving her three shots back in a bid to win three straight LPGA Tour starts.
A week after brutal wind outside Los Angeles in the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship, ideal scoring conditions greeted the players in the inaugural event at Seville Golf and Country Club.
Pajaree Anannarukan took advantage with a bogey-free, 9-under 63 after starting on the back nine at the 6,734-yard course in suburban Phoenix. She had a one-shot lead over Lilia Vu, Gabriela Ruffels, Isa Gabsa and former Arizona State players Azahara Munoz and Carlota Ciganda.
The top-ranked Korda opened with four birdies in five holes and closed with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 18th as she tries to become the first LPGA Tour player to win three straight starts since Ariya Jutanugarn in 2016.
Women's basketball
CLARK INVITED >> Caitlin Clark has been invited to participate in the USA Basketball national team training camp during the Final Four in Cleveland, contingent on Iowa's season being over.
The NCAA's Division I all-time scoring leader has earned three gold medals with USA Basketball junior teams, most recently as a member of the 2021 under-19 squad.
Clark, the likely No. 1 draft pick in the WNBA Draft on April 15 by the Indiana Fever, has been a ratings boon for college basketball.
NBA
WOLVES NOT FOR SALE >> The ownership transfer of the Minnesota Timberwolves slammed to a halt when Glen Taylor declared he won't take the final step of his drawn-out $1.5 billion deal to hand Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez the majority stake because they didn't meet all of the deadlines in the sale conditions.